Statement to the Press
By Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
General Assembly of the Organization of
American States
Bridgetown, Barbados
June 3, 2002
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME
TO BE IN BARBADOS HEADING THE U.S. DELEGATION TO THIS MEETING OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN STATES GENERAL
ASSEMBLY. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION TO THE GOVERNMENT AND
TO THE PEOPLE OF BARBADOS FOR EXTENDING SUCH FINE HOSPITALITY TO ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION.
MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, THE AMERICAS STAND TOGETHER TODAY AGAINST
TERRORISM AND FOR DEMOCRACY. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT OF OUR RESOLVE. I AM PLEASED
TO HAVE JUST JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN SIGNING THE NEW INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION
AGAINST TERRORISM.
THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO
CONDEMN THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS. THEN, JUST TEN DAYS LATER, OAS FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING IN WASHINGTON INSTRUCTED THE OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL TO PREPARE
A DRAFT TEXT OF AN INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST TERRORISM FOR TODAY'S OAS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS NOW BEEN DONE, AND WE APPLAUD OUR DELEGATIONS FOR
COMPLETING THIS TASK ON TIME AND ON TARGET.
TODAY, WE ALSO DISCUSSED OTHER HEMISPHERIC SECURITY ISSUES. WHILE
TRADITIONAL THREATS SUCH AS ARMED CONFLICTS HAVE NOT DISAPPEARED, NEW SECURITY
THREATS HAVE INTENSIFIED, SUCH AS TERRORISM, MONEY LAUNDERING, ORGANIZED CRIME,
DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND THE SCOURGE OF HIV/AIDS.
THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM, BASED ON THE CHARTER OF THE ORGANIZATION
OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE RIO TREATY, HAS SHOWN ITS ABILITY TO ADAPT AND
RESPOND TO NEW AND TRADITIONAL THREATS. TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REMAINS THE
CASE, WE AGREED TO CALL ON THE OAS TO DEVELOP AN INTER-AMERICAN DECLARATION ON HEMISPHERIC
SECURITY WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO UPDATE OUR SECURITY ARCHITECTURE.
WE ASKED THAT THIS DECLARATION BE READY FOR ADOPTION BY THE UPCOMING
SPECIAL CONFERENCE ON SECURITY. IN ADDITION TO SECURITY ISSUES, WE DISCUSSED
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JANUARY 2005 DEADLINE FOR COMPLETING NEGOTIATIONS ON THE
FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS.
FREE TRADE PROMISES TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACIES, THE RULE OF LAW,
AND MARKET-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION. FREE TRADE AND
ITS BENEFITS ARE GOALS WE WILL PURSUE WITH DETERMINATION.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I ALSO DISCUSSED DEMOCRACY IN OUR HEMISPHERE, AS
REFLECTED IN THE INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER THAT WE SIGNED LAST
SEPTEMBER 11.
VENEZUELA AND HAITI HAVE EMERGED AS CASES OF SPECIAL CONCERN.
THESE DEMOCRACIES ARE UNDER STRAIN. THE OAS HAS AN OBLIGATION TO DEFEND AND
SUPPORT STRUGGLING DEMOCRACIES THAT WISH